Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[jrtiger]

with the Olam news I'd be looking into Zac Laybutt and Viliami Vailea. with those two off contract, plus Purdue looking like a very good centre, the Cowboys can't keep them all happy. they're probably the best options of a very dry market.

you can't simply assume Taylan May will get off scot free, or that he'll be a natural fit for WT because his brother's here.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

So if Klemmer departs as expected and Olam is medically retired as looking likely, would we be stronger and would we be happy with Francis Molo and potentially Taylan May as their replacements ?
Yes I know we really need another back rower, but there is nobody available and nobody decent that looks like becoming available anytime soon, so you cannot buy something that is not for sale.
And yes I’d much prefer Spencer Leniu instead of Francis Molo, but I don’t think there is any chance an already struggling Roosters let go of another high quality prop.

Unfortunately, there not dumb enough to swap Klem for Leniu, on the 2RF front V after having a look at Kai Pearce Paul have my doubts as a target now looks like another one of those tall thin dudes.

 

[cone]

So if Klemmer departs as expected and Olam is medically retired as looking likely, would we be stronger and would we be happy with Francis Molo and potentially Taylan May as their replacements ?
Yes I know we really need another back rower, but there is nobody available and nobody decent that looks like becoming available anytime soon, so you cannot buy something that is not for sale.
And yes I’d much prefer Spencer Leniu instead of Francis Molo, but I don’t think there is any chance an already struggling Roosters let go of another high quality prop.

Molo would probably be cheap, not against it but would want to know for sure that Leniu isn’t happening first

 

[jrtiger]

So if Klemmer departs as expected and Olam is medically retired as looking likely, would we be stronger and would we be happy with Francis Molo and potentially Taylan May as their replacements ?
Yes I know we really need another back rower, but there is nobody available and nobody decent that looks like becoming available anytime soon, so you cannot buy something that is not for sale.
And yes I’d much prefer Spencer Leniu instead of Francis Molo, but I don’t think there is any chance an already struggling Roosters let go of another high quality prop.

if Klemmer moves on and Olam is retired then we have three spots to spare. I think one needs to be a lock, another a backrower and finally a centre. Molo is on $550k for another three years at 30 years old. we can do better.

 

[AdelaideTiger]

Everyone assuming Taylan May will be found not guilty? Wishful thinking maybe?
Did WT get Bryden's Lawyers advice on a "not guilty" verdict is a no brainer. So keep a top 30 spot for him?
Do we give his partner a brown paper bag to withdraw the charge? Negotiable?
Not sure how this is going end.

Sorry should have qualified that IF not guilty, which seems like it could be 50/50 at best. Definitely wishful thinking.

 

[Ecto-1]

I think it’s been reported that the Tigers have no interest in Molo so it won’t be a swap deal.

 

[weststigerman]

So if Klemmer departs as expected and Olam is medically retired as looking likely, would we be stronger and would we be happy with Francis Molo and potentially Taylan May as their replacements ?
Yes I know we really need another back rower, but there is nobody available and nobody decent that looks like becoming available anytime soon, so you cannot buy something that is not for sale.
And yes I’d much prefer Spencer Leniu instead of Francis Molo, but I don’t think there is any chance an already struggling Roosters let go of another high quality prop.

Don't really think we should replace Klemmer with another prop. Second row and lock continue to be a problem for the club.

I don't think Hetherington and Carrigan can both get high minutes in the same team so I expect Kobe to be available for 2026.

May, Pole, Hunt should be sharing the bulk of the minutes with one of Twal, Seyfarth, Laulilli, Johanssen to fill the 4th prop role.

 

[cone]

if Klemmer moves on and Olam is retired then we have three spots to spare. I think one needs to be a lock, another a backrower and finally a centre. Molo is on $550k for another three years at 30 years old. we can do better.

If he comes for 250k I wouldn’t be against it

 

[cone]

Don't really think we should replace Klemmer with another prop. Second row and lock continue to be a problem for the club.

I don't think Hetherington and Carrigan can both get high minutes in the same team so I expect Kobe to be available for 2026.

May, Pole, Hunt should be sharing the bulk of the minutes with one of Twal, Seyfarth, Laulilli, Johanssen to fill the 4th prop role.

We have the cash and spots for all 3 mate, prop
depth is disgustingly bad if we get injuries, next man up are literal kids

 

[Vicious]

with the Olam news I'd be looking into Zac Laybutt and Viliami Vailea. with those two off contract, plus Purdue looking like a very good centre, the Cowboys can't keep them all happy. they're probably the best options of a very dry market.

you can't simply assume Taylan May will get off scot free, or that he'll be a natural fit for WT because his brother's here.

If Taylan May is not an option, Vailea would be a good fit, currently excelling at right centre which is a problem spot for us also.
Zac Laybutt looks a high quality player, so either of them would be a great acquisition for us in 2026.
Back to the Taylan May possibility, if found not guilty he would be available in around a months time, wouldn’t he ?

 

[hank37w]

you might be right...

Can't see the Roosters letting him go any time soon, especially after losing May and JWH

They didn't lose May, they pushed him out the door only a matter of months after signing him to a new contract.

Maybe Spencer has pissed them off and he gets a phone call from Robbo. 🤣

 

[jrtiger]

We have the cash and spots for all 3 mate, prop
depth is disgustingly bad if we get injuries, next man up are literal kids

you can't just fill your squad with props because the "next man up are literal kids". if anything, it's a sink or swim opportunity for them and only the strong survive. there's also nothing on the market of note in regards to props either.

back row, centre (pending Olam's retirement) and lock are the three positions in need. they require urgent attention.

 

[Tucker]

I think not taking his medicine from the coaching staff and raising issues in a public forum in front of other, less experienced players within the squad isn't the best way to go about your business.

Did this really occur? Ive only seen a journo and people on here claim it.
However even if it did, this isnt a happy friends, chocolate fountains and rainbows unicorn riding enterprise. They are allowed to argue, vent frustrations and question decisions. I’ve seen no report from people who matter saying that he was constantly undermining Benj.

I also think that some of the backhanded social media comments could be construed as sour grapes and not an ideal way to conduct yourself as a professional.

Yes this wasn’t great. He seemed unhappy, even upset at treatment?

That being said, Benji should have also handled that situation better.

It seems the club hasn’t handled it well. Do we even really know why he went back to England last year?

 

[Vicious]

We have the cash and spots for all 3 mate, prop
depth is disgustingly bad if we get injuries, next man up are literal kids

I think we need another good experienced prop just as desperately as we need another quality back rower.
Quality back rowers are very scarce, no idea where we think we are getting one from ?

 

[jrtiger]

Back to the Taylan May possibility, if found not guilty he would be available in around a months time, wouldn’t he ?

hypothetically yes, but it depends on his fitness levels and whether he needs a week or two to get back up to speed. a lot of these questions would take time to find answers for.

 

[jrtiger]

I think we need another good experienced prop just as desperately as we need another quality back rower.
Quality back rowers are very scarce, no idea where we think we are getting one from ?

the club will likely keep it's powder dry until there's some unrest or some players are stuck in reserve grade or on the bench looking for a first grade opportunity.

one of particular interest is Brendan Piakura. if Madge the idiot opts for Jack Gosiewski in the starting side it's going to ruffle some feathers.

 

[weststigerman]

We have the cash and spots for all 3 mate, prop
depth is disgustingly bad if we get injuries, next man up are literal kids

I'd argue it's worse for second row, lock, and centre.

 

[cone]

you can't just fill your squad with props because the "next man up are literal kids". if anything, it's a sink or swim opportunity for them and only the strong survive. there's also nothing on the market of note in regards to props either.

back row, centre (pending Olam's retirement) and lock are the three positions in need. they require urgent attention.

Twal and bird can share lock as a stopgap. you’re cooked af if you don’t see an issue with having zero depth at prop, especially if klemmer leaves

Again, we have the spots for centre and backrow. Spencer would be an unreal signing and I can’t believe there’s idiots here that are against it

 

[innsaneink]

If Olam is medically retired does mini May come into the picture?

Maybe if he gets weekend leave

 

[hsvjones]

So if Klemmer departs as expected and Olam is medically retired as looking likely, would we be stronger and would we be happy with Francis Molo and potentially Taylan May as their replacements ?
Yes I know we really need another back rower, but there is nobody available and nobody decent that looks like becoming available anytime soon, so you cannot buy something that is not for sale.
And yes I’d much prefer Spencer Leniu instead of Francis Molo, but I don’t think there is any chance an already struggling Roosters let go of another high quality prop.

Can not see Klemmer leaving for a while tbh as this Molo situation looks long term with lawyers involved. By the time it's fixed Dragons will have other options